Hiking trails near Jacksonville take hikers to gorgeous coastal views, wonderful views of scenic lakes, deep into peaceful green forests, along the steep ridges to sweeping panoramic views. Since Jacksonville is home to large amount of hiking trails and a wide variety of hiking areas, this means there are a lot of interest in hiking from locals.
The list below is the top 8 hiking groups you should definitely check out. Each of these groups offer a wide variety of hiking experience and fun. They all have their own unique hiking goals and focus. Try out many of the groups to find the best fit for you. Use this list as a starting point during your hiking journey to find other hikers you enjoy hiking with.
- Florida Trail – North Florida Trailblazers – 2,630+ members
- Sidetrackers Outdoor and Active Singles Meetup Group -2,290+ members
- OUTdoorsy: Jacksonville LGBT Outdoors Adventure Team – 1,300+ members
- Jacksonville – Bucket List Group Travel – 800+ members
- Expedition First Coast – 540+ members
- Outdoor Afro Jacksonville – 230+ members
- Outsiders Too – 240+ members
- North Florida Camping Meetup Group – 70+ members
Florida Trail – North Florida Trailblazers
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/NorthFloridaTrailBlazers/
Description: Florida Trail – North Florida Trailblazers is a local chapter of the Florida Trail Association. Their purpose is to build and maintain sections of the Florida Trail. When they aren’t working on the Florida Trail they organize day hikes, backpacking, paddling, and many other outdoor activities. This group has hosted more than 715+ events in the past with one event each month.
Sidetrackers Outdoor and Active Singles Meetup Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Sidetrackers/
Description: Sidetrackers Outdoor and Active Singles Meetup Group is a group to meet other and active outdoorsy singles in Jacksonville. Their events include hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, biking, zip lining, and many other adventurous activities. They have organized a staggering 1,230+ events in the past and typically have multiple events per week.
OUTdoorsy: Jacksonville LGBT Outdoors Adventure Team
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Jacksonville-LGBT-Outdoors-Adventures/
Description: OUTdoorsy: Jacksonville LGBT Outdoors Adventure Team is for those in the LGBT community that are looking to get out on trails, rivers, or anywhere outside. They host activities such as hiking, biking, kayaking, ziplining, camping, and more. This group has hosted 450+ events in the past with two to three events each month.
Jacksonville – Bucket List Group Travel
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Jacksonville-Bucket-List-Group-Travel/
Description: Jacksonville – Bucket List Group Travel is for those looking for adventure vacations. They do trips for backpacking, hiking, and other outdoor travel trips from state parks, national parks and even international trips. They have hosted 75+ events in the past and range from two to three events each month,
Expedition First Coast
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Expedition-First-Coast/
Description: Expedition First Coast is a program sponsored by Black Creek Outfitters. Their goal is to reconnect children with nature through bi-monthly events. They want to help encourage parents to get outside with their children to explore local and state parks. They have hosted over 30+ events in the past with one or two events each month.
Outdoor Afro Jacksonville
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/Outdoor-Afro-Jacksonville/
Description: Outdoor Afro Jacksonville is a community that wants to reconnect African-Americans with natural spaces through outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, biking, birding, fishing, and more. This group has organized 25+ events in the past with typically one event each month.
Outsiders Too
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/outsiders-too/
Description: Outsiders Too is for all level of hikers who want to get outside in nature in a non-clique environment. They host events from hiking, strolling in gardens and parks, picnicking, beach days, kayaking, and even camping! They have organized over 5 events in the past with typically one event each month.
North Florida Camping Meetup Group
Cost to Join: Free
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Link: https://www.meetup.com/North-Florida-Camping-Meetup-Group/
Description: North Florida Camping Meetup Group is a group for friendly christian folks who like camping together. This group has hosted 45+ events in the past with typically one event every few months.
Why should you join a Jacksonville hiking group?
No Planning Needed
If you are new to hiking or you just want a break from researching and planning hiking trips then joining a local hiking group is a great idea. The hiking groups will plan, research, and organize hiking trails providing you with all of the details from trailhead, distance, elevation gain, and how difficult the hike is. All you need to do is show up and hike. All of this convenience means you can just focus on the hike and relax.
Learn from Others
Hiking groups have many benefits, but one of the main advantages of joining a hiking group is the ability to learn from others. You will meet many hikers with different levels of experience and preferences. With so much knowledge you will be able to learn how other hikers stay in shape, prepare their gear, and so much more. From these experiences you will be able to tailor your gear and hiking strategies to help you on your hikes.
Out of Town Exploration
If you want a change of pace and new scenery then joining a hiking group can take you on out of town hiking adventures. There are some groups that focus on out of town hikes to local state parks and even national parks. There are some groups that will occasionally do out of town trips. If you are looking to explore trails outside of the Jacksonville area then joining a group can help you with the transition.
3 things to consider when joining a Jacksonville hiking group
Group Size
Before you join a Jacksonville hiking group there are a number of things you should consider. The first thing to think about is the group size. There are some hiking groups that have been around for more than a decade with thousands of members. If you are looking for a smaller more intimate setting then you should opt to join a smaller hiking group. Each group size has its pros and cons, so be sure to try out varying sizes to see what works best for you.
Attendance
Another key factor to consider is average attendance. Some groups may have large number of members, but they could mostly be old members and inactive. So the first thing you want to look at is average attendance per event. You will be able to see if there are a small amount of people that typically attend or large groups. This will change the group dynamic and your experience.
Variety
Although the groups on this list focus on hiking, there are some that like to mix it up. These groups will have events for hiking, camping, backpacking and other outdoor activities. You will be able to branch out to other outdoor events if the group you participate in offers it. This is a great way to gain new experiences for other activities you might not have even heard of. New experiences will help keep things fresh and interesting!
Summary
When exploring Jacksonville hiking trails, hikers will encounter marvelous coastal trails, delightful lakeside walks, lovely shaded forest groves, and awe-inspiring panoramic views from rugged peaks. These natural sights and sounds from the local trails are fantastic, but they are even better when shared with new friends you will meet from local Jacksonville hiking groups.
Jacksonville is home to many wonderful hiking groups and organizations and this list of hiking groups only scratches the surface. You should definitely take the time to explore other groups that are not listed here. As you attend more hiking events and gain new experiences, your hiking interests will likely evolve. With many hiking groups available in Jacksonville, you can easily join new groups that align with your new interest and goals.
